LAS VEGAS -- Here are five story lines to watch for tonight when seventh-seeded Oregon (22-8) faces 10th-seeded Oregon State (16-14) in the Pac-12 Conference Tournament opener:

1. Guarding Eric Moreland: The improvements of Oregon's interior defense is a boon for the Ducks but doesn't quite fix the reality that no Duck can match up with OSU's possibly NBA-bound forward. Mike Moser isn't as athletic; Waverly Austin isn't fast enough; Ben Carter doesn't have the length.

The Ducks' strategy isn't limited to marching its "bigs" with the Beaver, though. Watch for how often coach Dana Altman throws guards Damyean Dotson and Jason Calliste on Moreland.

2. Mike Moser's rebounding: Four straight double-doubles have turned the Oregon senior forward back into the player who earned honorable mention All-American status at UNLV two seasons ago. Against a big front line of Oregon State, can he sustain that?

He averages 11.1 rebounds in his last seven games, nearly three more than his season average. Oregon State allows opponents to rebound nearly a third of their missed shots, which ranks 214th-worst in Division I. Opportunities to hit the glass will be there for Moser, who says he feels "definitely a little fresher" in the last few weeks.

"I think it’s kind of the mentality that all this could be over any minute now," he said. "Just continuing to play with that sense of desperation."

3. How to stop OSU's three-point shooting: Oregon's 10 three pointers were Arizona's undoing in last week's upset. If Oregon's perimeter defense is slow in its rotations, Oregon State's three-point shooting could ruin UO's hopes for a long Las Vegas stay, too.

The Beavers shoot 39.2 percent from deep, which slightly edges the Ducks' season average. This doesn't figure to be a weak spot for the Ducks, whose allowed three-pointer percentage is one of the 50-best in the country. Yet Roberto Nelson and the rest of OSU's shooters can heat up quickly.

4. Transition points: The Ducks shoot nearly 60 percent in the first 10 seconds after forcing a turnover, getting a defensive rebound or allowing a field goal, which is very good. But what was surprisingly lacking was their two points in transition against Arizona on Saturday, even considering the Wildcats national-leading defense.

The Beavers do not possess a defense like Arizona, however, which should allow the Ducks to get out and run.

5. Oregon's press: The Ducks like their full-court press and half-court traps and for good reason: Their 8.1 steals per game rank 19th in the country and second in the Pac-12.

"The press gives us something different that no one else does," Altman said.

But to win four games in four days and keep its legs fresh, Oregon must be judicious about how often it puts it into practice. Watch how often and in what situations Oregon chooses to use its pressure.